Hope In God

HOPE-IN-GODYesterday I was delighted to receive a call from a wonderful couple in Missouri whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting through a political organization of which I am a member. The Nolands are two of the godliest Christian patriots I know and have dedicated their entire lives to living holy lives and defending our constitutional republic. Judge Janice Noland is passionate about politics and seeing that only men and women of character serve the public.

As we were speaking on the state of our union, Judge Noland ask me, “What can we do about all of this mess?” That’s a good question. Normally I like to start at the root of the problem but I think we need to look at everything from God’s point of view.

While discussing the Supreme Court’s decisions on gay marriage, one of my colleagues asked me how I could stay so calm. I told him that I totally expected the outcome and that in the end I know how all of this turns out. God wins!

We’ve talked dozens of times here on how it seems the rats are winning the rat race, and they are. They’re rats for goodness sakes. The important part to remember is we are not rats. We are children of God, blood-bought, born-again believers. We are the rats worse nightmares, patriots who cling to our guns and Bibles, who love Jesus and try to live our lives to His glory. When we look at all the wickedness around us, remember while wickedness may be seeming to have a heyday, it will have its final day:

    “The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.” (Proverbs 14:32)

Remember I said that God wins in the end? Knowing this, I can face even death and know that my refuge is in the Lord.

There is a great interest, and for some a fascination, when it comes to end times prophecy. Many look the Book of Revelation as one to be feared, or to be interpreted so as to figure out how things will turn out. When I look at prophecy, I see God’s promises being fulfilled. I do not look at end times prophecy with dread. I look at it with desire, longing for the Day of the Lord. Long ago Daniel encouraged us to live our lives in hopeful expectancy:

    “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13)

By the way, that is how Daniel ended his book. The last two verses of the Book of Revelation end thusly:

    “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21)

Those are three very hopeful verses. We do well to remember our Christian forefathers and how they faced the persecutions and pressures of life. While facing Governor Felix on charges of sedition, the Apostle Paul made this defense:

    “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:14-16)

You see that lovely nugget of heavenly truth in the middle there? Paul testified that he had “hope in God.” Hope in God is what we must anchor our hearts to if we are going to live in a world that seems to be falling apart all around us. We must have eternal eyes to look upon the temporal things. We have no need of man to save us or to even intervene for us for we have the High Priest doing so right now:

    “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

Beloved, we need not despair of the things of this world; this is not our home. We have been saved from eternal destruction. We have been redeemed by the King of the Universe. As Paul exhorted Titus, I want to also encourage you:

    “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” (Titus 2:11-15)

We have the blessed hope of a returning and forever reigning King. Let us remind and encourage one another of this aletheia truth. We must always place our hope in God.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2013 David Jeffers

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